she could set the world on fire
and call it rain

AWE SHONE BRIGHTLY in young Amethyst's eyes. Her lips parted, and a gasp slipped past, eyes absorbing the grand structure before her, strongly resembling a castle with battlements on top of its two upper floors, the ground floor taking its appearance from Western-inspired houses. A bell tower sat at the top, and the guild's emblem hung proudly underneath, white against a striking orange fabric.

"Sugoi," breathed Amethyst.

Team Natsu stared at their tiny mate fondly, spotting how her hand was clasped in Erza's. "This is Fairy Tail," she informed, using her other arm to motion to the guild. "Our home, and now yours."

Eyes drifted over to the scarlet maiden, purple orbs illuminated under the sun's rays. She watched the soulmates interact warmly, her blazing fires basking the land, coaxing smiles and kindness out of all.

"Pretty, right?!" Natsu exclaimed, staring at the young girl. He was practically vibrating on the spot—and not because he had something in him. They don't even have phones. Do you really they'd have vibrators?

Excitement ran through his veins, increasing ten-fold as Amethyst nodded silently. Natsu's grin widened, and he stepped forward, pushing open the double doors and yelling his greetings, "We're back!"

A sweet, saccharine smell drifted into the guild, one of innocence and purity, and those with enhanced noses picked on upon the scent. Gajeel, who sat beside his soulmate, arm loosely draped across the back of the booth, looked over, eyes widening when a familiar protective feeling swelled within his chest.

"Mate," he mumbled, his gaze landing on a girl hiding behind Erza's legs, one hand gripping her skirt while the other grabbed her hand.

Laxus, who sat at the top, music drifting into his ears, turned to the source of the smell, his eyes fluttering open, landing on the same small girl, his inner dragon roaring to life.

Mate, it called. Our mate.

Both dragons slayers stood, capturing the attention of everyone else.

"Gajeel?" Levy questioned, cornered. She furrowed her brows, seeing how his pupils dilated. Following his line of sight, her jaw dropped, a familiar feeling blooming in her chest. Similarly, Mira and Juvia felt the same as they spotted the unfamiliar girl.

They stood, eyes wide, hearts racing.

The whole guild paused, wondering what the hell had gotten into their fellow members.

"Erza," called Mira. "Who is that?"

The said female merely smiled, her gleeful eyes confirming their thoughts. "Everyone, meet our newest member, Amethyst Fairy."

"Is she...?" Juvia trailed off, looking back at her own soulmate. Gray nodded, dark blue eyes softening, languish waves rising to the surface and bringing forth tender affection.

Their faces lit up, broad grins spreading across all their faces. Laxus remained neutral, though he, himself, at his innermost soul, was ecstatic; a feeling of content and fullness enveloped him.

Mira rounded the bar, making her way to the front. She crouched down in front of Erza, her white hair flowing lusciously down her back, curling at the ends, while her large blue eyes, reflecting the gentleness of the sky, focused in on the nervous child. "Hello," she greeted softly, the ends of her sleeveless maroon dress pooling on the floor. "I'm Mirajane. It's nice to meet you."

"A-Amethyst," the girl mumbled quietly, her voice sounding like bells ringing in the air. The name was foreign on her lips, but Amethyst couldn't help but adore it.

It was her name. Hers and only her.

──────〔🦋〕──────

Meeting her new guildmates, well, family as the one she learnt was called Natsu said. She stood close to Erza, finding comfort in her steady presence. There was something about a few people that drew her attention, but Amethyst didn't know what it was or what it meant. She had been isolated for her whole life, used as a lab rat for the entertainment of others.

Erza pulled aside the others and Makarov, updating them on the situation. Lucy took Amethyst to meet Romeo whilst the older mages discussed everything. Amethyst and Romeo stared at each other in silence. Wendy watched her soulmates in concern. She hoped they would get along; it would settle her inner dragon (even if it was dormant right now).

Minutes ticked by, the two kids hiding behind their individual guardians. Amethyst behind Lucy and Romeo behind Macao, his father.

"Come on, kid!" he said, patting his son's back. "Go say hello or something."

Romeo tightened his hold on his pants, shy. His cheeks flushed under the natural light seeping in through the large windows along the wall.

"It's alright, Amethyst," soothed Lucy, crouching down and meeting the girl at eye-level. "He won't hurt you. No one will. We're all family here."

Amethyst tilted her head. "Family?"

"Mhm," beamed Lucy.

"What's family?"

Smiles fell, eyes widened. Everyone turned to the girl in shock, their hearts aching at the curiosity in her eyes. Horror filled their bones, realising that she must have been so mistreated to have no clue even what the concept was.

"You don't know what it is?" Lucy asked. Amethyst shook her head. The blonde felt her chest restrict tightly. Even though she had been neglected in her childhood, she once had her mother. She once had a person who loved her more than life itself.

"A family are people who love you unconditionally," Romeo blurted, clinging to his father's pants as purple eyes moved to him, piercing through him like a sharp, pointy dagger. Cold. Harsh. 

A threat of death; a gift for pain.

Amethyst perked up. "Really?"

"Yup!" Emboldened by her reaction, Romeo stepped away from his father, walking closer to the girl. "They support you no matter what, give you comfort and safety— a home."

"A home?" Amethyst looked over to Erza, who was already watching her. "This...is home?" She smiled, her arms resting under her breasts, head tilting forward in a nod.

"Our home, Amethyst," Lucy stated, the sun radiating its honeyed gold behind her toothy smile. "Yours and mine."

Her chest swelled. Tears surfaced.

Her soulmates panicked; the others in the guild did, too.

"I've never had a home," she sniffled, raising her arms where the oversized cardigan Wendy gave to her from her suitcase, her old clothes, dirtied and torn, were thrown away in the first trashcan they found, adorned. She used the sleeve to wipe her face, bullets of tears streaming down her cheeks, her soul bleeding out an ocean.

Before Lucy could do anything, could reach forward and cradle the child to her body, Romeo grabbed her, bringing her into a hug. They were about the same height, their foreheads pressed together.

He looked into her eyes, a genuine smile on his face.

"We're your family now."

Amethyst couldn't help but replicate that smile.

The older guildmates watched the duo fondly. They returned back to their own business, content that their youngest members were okay now. Amethyst, their newest addition, would be supported in life now that she was here. They would take care of her. That was an unspoken promise sworn by everyone—by the main members.

"What happened to her?" Mira asked, covering her mouth with her fingers, worried eyes glancing back to their soulmate every so often. She was glad to see Romeo introducing her to everyone else, showing her around the whole guild.

"We found her on our job," Erza explained. "She was a part of a dark guild—what was left of a dark guild."

"Left?"

Team Natsu turned solemn. "Everyone was dead," Gray answered. "There were corpses and blood splattered everywhere."

Gasps ricocheted across the group. "Who did that?"

"I think—and I know some might disagree—but I think Amethyst did it."

The dragon slayers immediately let out growls, glaring at Erza. "You think a mere child could do such a horrid thing?!"

Mira placed a placating hand on Laxus' shoulder.

"Laxus," she said, "lower your voice. We don't want Amethyst to hear."

He huffed but complied, never one to ignore or disobey his soulmate's requests. He plopped onto a stool by the bar and grabbed her waist, pulling Mira into his embrace and stuffing his nose into her neck, inhaling her scent to calm himself down.

"What do you mean, Erza?" Makarov questioned, lips pursed and eyes narrowing onto the female he saw as his daughter—and as one of the strongest mages. Sage, too.

"The town mayor told us how a bright purple light shone from the forest one day, and they felt a large magical presence for a few minutes. When we saw Amethyst, her power...it has an alarmingly strong presence."

Makarov hummed. He looked over and watched his children's soulmate play around with Romeo, the two of them giggling and sneaking around in the corners of the guild.

"Do you think she did it on purpose?" Happy wondered, floating in the air, white wings elevating him.

Lucy shook her head. "I don't think it's possible." She looked over at Natsu, her fluctuating emotions flowing through their bond. "She didn't even know what a family was."

The dragon slayer brought her into his arms, placing a hand on her head and letting her bury her face into his shoulder. Lucy had always been a great empath; her past situation allowed her to feel and understand Amethyst's emotions. But it wasn't just her. Most of the members in the guild suffered some sort of trauma. And now? They had each other. And they would always have each other.

"I suppose we won't know what happens until she tells us." Makarov straightened himself, fixing his attire and resuming his carefree, jolly persona. "Now! Bring her 'ere. It's time to give her her insignia!"

They brightened up, and Natsu walked over.

"Amethyst!" he yelled, picking up his pace. "I'm stealing her for a second." The dragon slayer scooped his little soulmate in his arms, laughing haughtily as Romeo protested loudly.

"Oi! Natsu-nii! Give her back!"

"Never! MWAHAHA!"

Amethyst clutched onto his scarf, using that to stable herself as Natsu ran away from Romeo. Before he could get far, the floor froze, and Amethyst was whisked out of the mage's arms and into Gray's.

"Oi! What do you think you're doing, popsicle di— stick!"

"You're going to drop her, flame brain," he notified, walking to the bar. "Just be a good dog and stay down."

Natsu shrieked, "Who are you calling a dog?!"

Romeo took his immobility as an opportunity, jumping onto his back and making himself comfortable. "Oof. Get off, Romeo."

"Nope." He crossed his arms over his chest. "You stole Amethyst from me. This is payback." He stuck out his tongue, and Natsu groaned.

Melodious giggles drifted through the air. Gray glanced down, spotting Amethyst watching the duo over his shoulder, lips curved upwards. His heart swelled with warmth, and he cuddled her closer.

"Here we go," he said, placing her safely on the stool. Gray took a step back, and Mirajane walked over to her with the stamp in her hand.

Amethyst immediately flinched back, the dragon slayers picking up on the distress seeping into her scent. Their gazes darted over, narrowed and sharp.

"Hey, hey," placated the white-haired mage. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"What is that?" Amethyst whispered, drawing her knees to her chest, a defensive position. Purple shadows began to manifest around her fingers, faint warning flashes.

"It's a stamping tool."

"Stamping tool?"

Mirajane pulled up her dress, revealing the white mark situated on her left thigh.

"It doesn't hurt," she informed. "But it shows you're a part of this guild."

"Oh." Amethyst glanced at the others, spotting the same mark on their bodies. "Do I get one?"

Mirajane laughed softly. "Yes. That's why I've brought it." She walked over to her soulmate, showing her the magical device as reassurance. Her powers died down, and Makarov and Erza shared a glance. The latter's theory seemed very reliable. "Do you have any preference? Where and what colour?"

"Purple?" she wondered softly, hesitant. She didn't want to be too demanding and get punished by her new guild. Amethyst didn't want to be a bad girl. Not with the people that she enjoyed being around.

"Alright. Place?"

She pointed to her collarbone, and Mirajane smiled, happily pressing the stamp down and lifting it up after a few seconds. Amethyst shivered at the odd feeling, reaching up to touch the mark.

"Here." Mira handed her a hand mirror, and Amethyst stared into it, aweing at the new design.

"How do you feel?" Levy asked.

As Amethyst looked around the guild, looked at the new people, the smiles, the joy, the new purple mark on her body, she could reply with only one thing, "Warm."